That's the point Jim. Run a search for optimizing Windows XP for music and make those changes. Then, when you want to record you'll disconnect from the internet, then shut down the virus and spyware/malware/adware programs for your recording and music processing. Once that's completed start the stuff all up again.
You may have to physically hit a switch to turn off the wireless antenna if that's what you're running, or unplug your cable or DSL. If you're running on dial up, don't dial up.
That will stop all that scanning.
Keep in mind, the files stored on your computer don't slow it down, in themselves. What slows your system down when writting to the hard drive is if the file is spread all over the drive so the system has to search longer for it so...If you're adding and deleting lots of music you'll need to do regular defrags so the system can more easily write files to contiguous areas of the drive.
As to your scheduled maintenance, scanning & etc. Set up a time for that to start and operate while you're in bed asleep. If you normally go to bed at midnight, have the system start, say a half an hour later. When you're up after your sleep all that work is done and you won't have to put up with the starts and stutters except for the live scans of email, and downloads.

Dak

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